Crossacres Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Manchester for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 133 of its 704 pupils (18.9%) were getting SEN support and 50 (7.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 704 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Manchester.
18.9% get SEN support
133 of 704 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
7.1% have an EHC plan
50 of 704 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication119
- Social, emotional and mental health15
- Autism10
- Physical disability9
- Moderate learning difficulty5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 704 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Suzanne Blay
- Part of
- Crossacres Primary Academy
- Free school meals
- 49.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Manchester
- School reference (URN)
- 140709
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Manchester council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, January 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Crossacres Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5AD
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School Special school · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- The Kingsway School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.8 miles
- Benchill Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.0 mile
- Southern Cross School Special school · Ages 9–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Gatley Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 4.6%, EHC plans 3% 0.4 miles
- Peel Hall Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.2%, EHC plans 6.1% 0.5 miles
- St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.9%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Manchester SEND schools in Manchester
Questions about Crossacres Primary Academy
How many pupils at Crossacres Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 133 of the 704 pupils (18.9%) were getting SEN support and 50 (7.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Crossacres Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (119 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (15 pupils) and autism (10 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Crossacres Primary Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Crossacres Primary Academy?
Through Manchester council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Crossacres Primary Academy?
You can ask for Crossacres Primary Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Crossacres Primary Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is The Kingsway School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Crossacres Primary Academy?
Crossacres Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5AD, in Manchester.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.